Positioning for use of OERs in online course development: Best Practice and Quality Assurance

View/Open

Date

2013-11

Abstract

Enhancement of quality in online learning is driven by key factors, among them course development strategies, course structure and technology integration. OERs provide an opportunity for improving the pace of course development and at the same time provide quality materials. Adaptation of narratives or technology mediation in content areas of interest, that are guided by curriculum development specialists and instructional designers can potentially work as a least cost strategy to reach a wide student group with diverse learning styles and needs. This paper argues that the extent to which quality standards are observed with OER use and adaptation depends on institutional policy, protocols, and staff development to ensure that course design and materials production reflect a consistent approach, there is use of appropriate resources for the course level and the learning activities are tied to the course objectives. How do OERs fit in? How difficult is it for OERs to be effectively incorporated in online course development, despite their original design for a different audience? Can quality be assured across diverse content areas? This critical analysis explores the course design and structure of two online courses in the areas of accounting and change management for educational leadership, offered to adult learners enrolled in two online undergraduate programmes. It examines the methodologies used for incorporation of OERs, the types of resources used and the learning activities that were developed to assess their effectiveness. // This paper attempts to demonstrate how different types of OERs can be creatively used to enhance the quality of online courses and provide a context for specific types of learning activities that assist adult learners with development and enhancement of their critical thinking skills and application of their learning to practice in Caribbean work environments. // Paper ID: 463

To achieve the dream of equal and just society we need to develop ourselves as a worthy and independent member learning community. To realize this dream every member must be free from fears of different kind that make ...

Anchored on the premise that internal quality assurance (IQA) systems and processes of universities should be
sufficiently operational, well oriented and committed to guarantee the fitness for purpose of an educational
...

Gaspard-Richards, Denise(Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Open University Malaysia (OUM), 2016-11)

ODL is growing at The University of the West Indies and on the premise of increasing access, the demands on the curriculum development unit of the institution’s fourth campus – The Open Campus, has increased by more than ...

The quality of the teachers of the basic education programme in Nigeria has been a major concern of stakeholders, and especially of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) which has responsibility for the ...

Presented by Professor Asha Kanwar, President & CEO, Commonwealth of Learning, at the International Conference on Open and Distance e-Learning (ICODeL), 26 November 2018. Co-written with Dr Sanjaya Mishra, Education ...